What some see as the future of money and others see as a scam is making inroads in Tampa Bay.

FlameStone American Grill in Oldsmar will accept Bitcoin to purchase FlameStone gifts cards on the restaurant’s website.

FlameStone is the first Tampa Bay restaurant to accept Bitcoin, a peer-to-peer payment system and digital currency, said owner Nick Pappas, who opened FlameStone with his father in 2007.

“I love the restaurant business. It’s my passion. But my other passion is technology and gadgets,” said Pappas, part of the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s inaugural class of 30 Under 30 in 2003. “I’m a techy nerd at heart and Bitcoin has always intrigued me.”

In order to accept Bitcoin, Pappas had to open an account with a company that provides a platform on which Bitcoin could operate. He researched four or five major players before settling on San Francisco-based Coinbase, which describes itself as a wallet and platform where merchants and consumers can transact with the new digital currency.

Pappas acknowledges there are lots of concerns about Bitcoin, especially following the collapse of Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox. The exchange reportedly lost track of hundreds of thousands of units of the cryptocurrency, NPR reported.

In accepting Bitcoin, FlameStone is taking the risk, not the customer, Pappas said.

He balances those concerns with the growing popularity of Bitcoin.

“A lot of people use it and believe in it. Overstock.com is getting about $20,000 to $30,000 a month in Bitcoin sales,” Pappas said.

While Pappas expects Bitcoin popularity to grown, he thinks that will take some time. He’s only expecting to see a few Bitcoin purchases at FlameStone in coming months.

He also plans to roll it out to Besa Grill, which he also owns, and may eventually start accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment for dine-in guests.